Dolphins players inspire teens at Broward courthouse

Miami Dolphin football player Jamar Taylor talks to kids who are in the juvenile… (Carline Jean, Sun Sentinel )

April 23, 2014|By Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel

There was nothing easy about becoming a professional football player, Miami Dolphins cornerbacks Will Davis and Jamar Taylor told a group of teenagers Tuesday.

The two 2013 draft picks were at the Broward courthouse in Fort Lauderdale to give a pep talk to two dozen youth who, over the past few years, have been charged as juveniles with criminal conduct.

The goal of "Dolphin Day" in the court's juvenile division, said Broward Circuit Judge Stacy Ross, was to show the teenagers that they're on the wrong path — and to inspire them to get on the right one.

Dolphin Day began 10 years ago under Broward Circuit Judge Howard Zeidwig and took place every few months. The last one was six years ago, said his son, Gary Zeidwig, who attended the event. Judge Zeidwig passed away in 2008.

Davis and Taylor, both 23, played their first seasons with the team last year. Both said they grew up in California — Davis in Los Angeles and Taylor in San Diego. And both said there were times in their lives when they were tempted to break the law.

"Growing up, I was a little thuggish," Taylor said. He told the teens about the murder of his cousin and how he wanted to get revenge. But his family and his long-term goal of entering professional football were enough to keep him from straying too far.

"I had great parents and a dream that kept me out of that," he said.

Asked by one teenager if he had ever smoked marijuana, Davis gave a confession-free confession.

"I've never sold any," Davis said, allowing a moment of silence to settle in. He added that drug testing on the Dolphins keeps him and teammates from indulging in recreational pot smoking. Taylor said drugs could ruin a player's future.

"You've got to figure out what you want to do, what's going to help and what's going to get in the way," he said.

The players stressed the importance of hard work, staying out of trouble, learning from mistakes and staying focused on future goals.

Jack Sadaka, 18, of Hollywood, said he was impressed the players came to talk to teenagers like him. He also appreciated them pointing out that there are more undrafted free agents in football's Hall of Fame than there are first-round draft picks.

"That told me that you don't have to start out top gun to end up top gun," Sadaka said.